Student housing project hits snag

Planning commission seeks changes in site plan; OKs other items

A proposed student housing development hit a snag in the Planning and Zoning Commission and will go before the Tuscaloosa City Council for approval.

Staff graphic | Anthony Bratina

By Jason MortonStaff Writer

Published: Tuesday, July 16, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, July 15, 2013 at 11:40 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | A proposed student housing development on the site of the former Riverview Water Treatment plant gained unanimous approval Monday for a rezoning, a subdivision realignment and the vacating of an unused street.

It failed, however, to gain the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission’s blessing for the site plans as drawn under the stringent Riverfront Zoning, which requires at least six commissioners to vote to approve.

Campus Crest Development, the company behind the 228-unit, 628-bed complex off Fifth Street Northeast, now goes before the City Council for approval on the rezoning of a .04-acre tract within the 15.86-acre site and the Riverfront Zoning approval.

Only one city resident spoke against the development, called The Grove at Tuscaloosa, and two others asked questions regarding building proximity to existing homes, noise, parking and traffic.

Representatives for Campus Crest Development addressed these concerns and left many of the commissioners saying that a student-

housing complex is ideal for this location.

“This is the right location for student housing,” said Alex Eyssen, director of development for the Charlotte, N.C.-based development company. “This is the right time and this is the right project.”

The primary topic debated by commissioners was the proposed parking plan, which calls for about 525 spaces for the 628 bedrooms.

Rumsey, the commission chairman, questioned whether the parking would be enough to accommodate the tenants where bedrooms likely will rent for at least $600.

Eyssen, however, said that an audit of several of the 81 student-based properties owned or operated by Campus Crest Development nationwide showed that this number of spaces will be adequate and speculated that many will remain empty.

“We find that every resident does not have a car ...,” Eyssen said. “(Parking) is not something we take lightly.

“We think this is the right number.”

Developer Bill Trick, who is selling the tract to Campus Crest Development, said that his student rental properties, such as The Bluffs at Waterworks, located nearby, never have all of their parking spaces full.

And Andy Turner, property manager for Midtown Village, said the top floors of both parking decks that were built for the project’s residential tenants are always empty.

Lambert-Brown was the only commission member to question the necessity of the project in light of the new student-housing task force formed last month by Mayor Walt Maddox.

The purpose of the task force, according to the mayoral executive order, is to evaluate the “current and future student rental housing markets in Tuscaloosa, especially in regard to whether the market is becoming overly saturated, and whether the city can or should take measures to address housing needs.”

Other goals of the group are to look at planning, land use, zoning or other regulations that can allow for an orderly development of student housing as well as infrastructure upgrades or improvements that will be needed to accommodate the growth in student-based apartment complexes.

“I think this project is a bit premature, in light of that study,” Lambert-Brown said.

But Robert Reynolds, the commission’s co-chairman, countered:

“If they’re willing to make this kind of investment, that’s encouraging to me. I just don’t see any other use for the property.”

Rumsey said he doesn’t see the project as dead.

“This site is perhaps one of the best for student housing due to its proximity to the university and the fact there are no negative impacts on adjoining property owners,” he said. “With some tweaking of their parking and aesthetics, I could and would wholeheartedly support this petition.”

<p>TUSCALOOSA | A proposed student housing development on the site of the former Riverview Water Treatment plant gained unanimous approval Monday for a rezoning, a subdivision realignment and the vacating of an unused street. </p><p>It failed, however, to gain the city's Planning and Zoning Commission's blessing for the site plans as drawn under the stringent Riverfront Zoning, which requires at least six commissioners to vote to approve.</p><p>The Riverfront Zoning petition failed 5-3, with Commissioners Easty Lambert-Brown, Chad Christian and Steven Rumsey voting against it.</p><p>Campus Crest Development, the company behind the 228-unit, 628-bed complex off Fifth Street Northeast, now goes before the City Council for approval on the rezoning of a .04-acre tract within the 15.86-acre site and the Riverfront Zoning approval.</p><p>Only one city resident spoke against the development, called The Grove at Tuscaloosa, and two others asked questions regarding building proximity to existing homes, noise, parking and traffic.</p><p>Representatives for Campus Crest Development addressed these concerns and left many of the commissioners saying that a student-</p><p>housing complex is ideal for this location.</p><p>“This is the right location for student housing,” said Alex Eyssen, director of development for the Charlotte, N.C.-based development company. “This is the right time and this is the right project.”</p><p>The primary topic debated by commissioners was the proposed parking plan, which calls for about 525 spaces for the 628 bedrooms.</p><p>Rumsey, the commission chairman, questioned whether the parking would be enough to accommodate the tenants where bedrooms likely will rent for at least $600.</p><p>Eyssen, however, said that an audit of several of the 81 student-based properties owned or operated by Campus Crest Development nationwide showed that this number of spaces will be adequate and speculated that many will remain empty.</p><p>“We find that every resident does not have a car ...,” Eyssen said. “(Parking) is not something we take lightly.</p><p>“We think this is the right number.”</p><p>Developer Bill Trick, who is selling the tract to Campus Crest Development, said that his student rental properties, such as The Bluffs at Waterworks, located nearby, never have all of their parking spaces full.</p><p>And Andy Turner, property manager for Midtown Village, said the top floors of both parking decks that were built for the project's residential tenants are always empty.</p><p>“What we've created,” Trick said, “is a sea of asphalt. And it's ugly.”</p><p>Lambert-Brown was the only commission member to question the necessity of the project in light of the new student-housing task force formed last month by Mayor Walt Maddox.</p><p>The purpose of the task force, according to the mayoral executive order, is to evaluate the “current and future student rental housing markets in Tuscaloosa, especially in regard to whether the market is becoming overly saturated, and whether the city can or should take measures to address housing needs.”</p><p>Other goals of the group are to look at planning, land use, zoning or other regulations that can allow for an orderly development of student housing as well as infrastructure upgrades or improvements that will be needed to accommodate the growth in student-based apartment complexes.</p><p>“I think this project is a bit premature, in light of that study,” Lambert-Brown said.</p><p>But Robert Reynolds, the commission's co-chairman, countered:</p><p>“If they're willing to make this kind of investment, that's encouraging to me. I just don't see any other use for the property.”</p><p>Rumsey said he doesn't see the project as dead.</p><p>“This site is perhaps one of the best for student housing due to its proximity to the university and the fact there are no negative impacts on adjoining property owners,” he said. “With some tweaking of their parking and aesthetics, I could and would wholeheartedly support this petition.”</p><p>Reach Jason Morton at jason.morton@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0200.</p>